UH defensive coordinator won't return next season

Updated 5:41 pm, Friday, January 11, 2013

Jamie Bryant is leaving UH after spending two season with the Cougars.

Jamie Bryant is leaving UH after spending two season with the Cougars.

Photo: Melissa Phillip

UH defensive coordinator won't return next season

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The overhaul of the Houston football staff continued Thursday with the Cougars confirming defensive coordinator Jamie Bryant and defensive line coach Carlton Hall will not return for the 2013 season.

In its only season under Bryant, the UH defense allowed the most passing yards (3,483) and gave up the second-most points (432) and total offense (5,806) in school history as the Cougars went 5-7 and failed to make the postseason.

Houston finished near the bottom nationally in nearly every major defensive category, ranking 115th out of 120 Football Bowl Subdivision schools in total defense (483 yards per game) and pass defense (290.2), 107th in scoring defense (36 points) and 92nd against the run (192.8). The Cougars allowed 44, 41 and 48 points in three consecutive conference losses in November.

A year earlier under former defensive coordinator Brian Stewart, the Cougars ranked 62nd in total defense and 35th in scoring defense.

Bryant, a former defensive coordinator at Vanderbilt, spent two seasons at UH after joining former coach Kevin Sumlin's staff in 2011. He enjoyed his most success working with the Cougars' linebacker corps, which featured all-conference selections Sammy Brown and Marcus McGraw in 2011 and Phillip Steward and Derrick Mathews this season.

The latest moves mean the Cougars will enter their first season in the Big East with newcomers at the two coordinator positions on head coach Tony Levine's staff.

Doug Meacham, a former assistant at Oklahoma State, has been hired as the new offensive coordinator and will handle play-calling duties. He replaced Mike Nesbitt, who was fired after a 30-13 loss to Texas State in the season opener.

UH also plans to announce Friday the hiring of Glen Elarbee as offensive line coach, according to a source familiar with the decision. He will replace Lee Hays.